Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Isn't it passing strange to be asked about the cost of living by somebody who's opposing more cost-of-living relief and by a party that has stood in the way of cost-of-living relief for working Australians time and time again? It's the party that voted against energy bill relief. It's the party that stood in the way of tax relief. It's the party that wanted more expensive medicines. The party that have consistently voted and argued against cost-of-living relief for working Australians now want to talk about cost-of-living relief when they're standing in the way of yet another round of cost-of living-relief. Really, you could not script this stuff, could you?

The reality, Senator Cash, is that you and the coalition have stood against cost-of-living relief and tax relief that has been put forward by this government time and time again, and now you are again telling Australians that they don't deserve a tax cut. You want to cut everything but Australians' taxes. I would remind those opposite that the inflation rate is almost a third of what it was at the election. I would remind those opposite that real wages are growing again. I know that Senator Cash is one of those who believe that lower wages are better for the economy. We do not share that view. We think people should earn more and keep more of what they earn. We've seen the lowest average unemployment rate for any government in 50 years and we've seen over 1.1 million jobs created.